Around Town

Public Input on Comprehensive Plan to be Discussed Thursday by Planning Advisory Committee

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The Planning Advisory Committee will review the input on the Comprehensive Plan received from the public at a meeting on Thursday. The Comprehensive Plan is being updated after being first adopted in 2015. It serves as the primary planning document for Watertown and covers a variety of areas including: economic development, housing, transportation, open space and recreation, and sustainability. The City held public forums on the plan in September and in March. See more about the Comprehensive Plan update on the project webpage.

Around Town

FAA Hosting Workshops on How Air Traffic is Managed in the Boston Area

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The Federal Aviation Administration’s New England Region announced it will host the “Boston Area Communities Public Information Workshop” via Zoom, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 and again on Thursday, April 27, 2023. 

This first of it’s kind event is an opportunity to discuss with communities the many operations, challenges, and constraints in and around the airspace in the Boston area. The panelists during the virtual workshop include representatives from the FAA, MassPort (Boston Logan Airport operator), and airline and aviation industry spokespersons. The panelists will discuss how we operate the airspace and provide a detailed explanation of key arrival and departure procedures. Additionally, they can explain in detail the factors that create challenges and constraints for an airport, such as weather, terrain, and airport surface limits. You will be able to register for the Live Workshops at the links below.  

April 26, 2023 – 1pm-3pm EST – https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jH820gJ4QZSrbrr21e_P8Q

April 27, 2023 – 6pm-8pm EST – https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_o9QqGvIfTY6SRro0yzlPlw

After the workshops conclude, you will be able to access the complete recorded workshops on YouTube with the other links below, or by navigating to “videos” on the FAA’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FAA/.

Around Town

Watertown Lit Squad Preparing for Arts Market, Seeks New Members

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Members of the Watertown Lit Squad at a reading for DeWitt Henry’s new work “Restless for Words,” at Wellesley Books, April 3rd. Pictured, from left, Richard Calleja, Monica Fairbairn, Patrick Fairborn, Liz Rodgers DeWitt Henry and Ruth Henry, with copies of their poetry sampler published and available on Amazon. The following information was provided by the Watertown Lit Squad:

On May 13th, and May 20th the two year-old “Watertown Lit Squad” will be meeting at the Watertown Public Library at 2:30 p.m. to share successes, plan for their public reading on May 20, recruit new members and plan for the summer Watertown Arts Market performance on August 17th, 2023. During the last two years, one member has had her first poem accepted for publication, one has had two books accepted for publication and/or published, and a third was selected as the writer in residence by an independent bookstore and given a place to work and a place to workshop her writing. The “Lit Squad” is a multi-generational, multi-racial and welcoming group seeking to reach out to new members to come join us. Under the new slogan ‘Dare to Share,” they are encouraging any Watertown resident or person with connection to Watertown to submit works for sharing on May 20th or August 17th. 

We are inviting the past winners of the Martin Luther King breakfast essay competition to come forward and share any recent work.

Around Town

Pair of Sisters Run Marathon for Hospital That Gave Their Mother Cancer Treatment

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The Tolman sisters, Katherine (far right) and Julia (second from right) ran the 2023 Boston Marathon for their mother, Carolyn (Second from left). Also pictured are their father Warren (far left) and Andrew (center). Katherine and Julia Tolman completed the Boston Marathon this year, and raised more than $25,000 for the hospital that treated their mother’s cancer. The sisters wanted to give back to the organization that gave their mother so much over the years: Mass. General Hospital.

Around Town

See Which Streets the City Assessors Will be Doing Inspections

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The following announcement came from the City of Watertown:

The Assessing Office is required by the Department of Revenue to make a good faith effort to inspect all properties within a ten-year period. This year, we have hired Patriot Properties to help us with those inspections. Starting May 1, 2023 and through the month of May, they will be inspecting properties on the following streets:

Bancroft Street

Bradshaw Street

Downey Street

Edenfield Avenue

Edward Road

Elmwood Avenue

Evans Street

Fitchburg Street

Forest Street

Gertrude Street

Goldie Street

Lawrence Street

Loomis Avenue

Quincy Street

Rutland Street

Springfield Street

Waverley Avenue

Worcester Street

Letters have been mailed to all owners of properties on these streets informing them.

Around Town

8th Annual Global Film Festival Features a Dozen Films

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The following information was provided by the Global Cinema Festival:

Global Cinema Film Festival of Boston (GCFF) is proud to announce that its 8th annual event will run online from May 19-21, 2023. This year we are excited to partner with our Industry Sponsor Filmocracy to bring you the online edition of the festival. 

The festival kicks off on Friday, May 19, 2023 with VOD film screenings available online until Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 11:55 PM EST. For a complete list of our 2023 Official Selections, program schedule and ticketing information, please visit our website! 

For many years, World in Watertown was a sponsor of the Global Cinema Festival. This year’s festival features 12 films.

SCROLL DOWN TO DISCOVER THE FILMS! 

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IRON BUTTERFLIES

2023 | Ukraine | 84 MIN | 

DIRECTOR: Roman Liubyi

CATEGORY: DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM 

Online Screening w/English Subtitles | May 19-21

On July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down by Russian forces over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. The reality of this attack, and its possible ramifications for the then-ongoing war in Donbas and the West’s relationship with Russia, was immediately questioned by the Russian government and media. As voluminous evidence — including physical artifacts like the butterfly-shaped shrapnel found in the bodies of the pilots — piled up, the lies denying reality only became more outlandish and incredible. In a world where violence can only be defended by lies, and lies only maintained by violence, Iron Butterflies presents the truth of what happened to MH17, but also what was at stake by not confronting it. 

Buy Tickets

DOGWATCH 

2022 | Greece | 78 MIN | 

DIRECTOR: Gregoris Rentis


CATEGORY: DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM  

Online Screening w/English Subtitles | May 19-21

Mercenaries set sail for a life of action against Somali pirates. Yet, the sea is full of surprises.

Around Town

Special Performance of Play About Watertown’s Indigenous History

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The following announcement was provided by the Pigsgusset Initiative:

Community members are invited to a spring performance of Listen to Sipu, a play about Watertown’s Indigenous History written by Mwalim*7) and performed by New Repertory Theatre. Save the date!  May 11, 2023. Listen to Sipu offers a captivating and powerful story that illuminates Watertown’s Indigenous history. Join in on a performance led by a modern-day Tour Guide and meet Sipu, a quick-witted Indigenous woman who’s more than willing to correct misinformation when she hears it. Armed with facts the Tour Guide begins describing Watertown’s local history only to find that the facts are missing a lot of truths. Sipu is ready to step in and set the record straight, but will people choose to listen? 

The performance will be offered at the Watertown Middle School auditorium from 6:30-8:00 P.M. A light supper provided by Branchline featuring the Indigenous cuisine of Chef Sherry Pocknett will be provided from 5:30 – 6:30 in the cafeteria. Thanks to generous grants from the Watertown Community Foundation, the Watertown Cultural Council and support from the school-based Diversity and Inclusion Councils both the supper and performance are free.

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Citizens Petition Seeks to Limit Size of Building in Watertown Square

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The Central Business District can be seen in red. It is located in Watertown Square. Tuesday night, the City Council will consider a citizens petition to reduce the size allowed for new buildings going up in the area around Watertown Square. The City Council will meet on Tuesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in City Hall, and will also have remote participation by Zoom. The agenda also includes a vote on funding for the recommended projects from the Community Preservation Committee.